The Milky Way’s New Spiral Arm

Early textbook drawings of our galaxy may show many spiral arms around a spherical nucleus. Then a bar was found in the galaxy’s center . .. then the number of arms went to four . . .then to two. It’s tough to see on the other side of the nucleus, though. But, as was reported at the recent American Astronomical Society meeting, using only a 4-foot dish on the roof of the Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, the 60,000 light year long tip of a spiral arm was found using Carbon Monoxide emission. As illustrated in the diagram (courtesy of Sky & Telescope), you can now see what the galaxy may look like . . .or the latest rendition anyway!

The official CUAS by-laws have been amended, ratified during the February 2011 meeting. You can view the current PDF of the by-laws here or see the HTML version by clicking here.

Thursdays at 7pm: March 8, April 12, May 10, June 14. For more information, see Events Calendar.

Saturdays: March 3rd, March 31st, May 26th at our dome. April 21st at Middle Fork Forest Preserve. Call (217)351-2567 for event updates. For more information, see Events Calendar.

Click here for a map displaying the alternate route to Middlefork Forest Preserve: middlefork.html.

Check out the Night Sky Network website: http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov

READ the Proposed Lighting Code that Audrey Ishii, Bob Lozar, and Dave Leake are working on! New version as of June 17th, 2008. Click on Proposed Lighting Code

Want to know what observing conditions will be like for the next few days? Then click on CUAS Observatory Clear Sky Clock

Click here for links to CUAS members' websites.

The Champaign Urbana Astronomical Society is devoted to the promotion of astronomy and enjoyment of the night skies.